Romania and Greece both had to swallow some bad-tasting medicine if they were to be healed, visiting European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek said Wednesday.

"We must heal the economy and, for that, some medicines are needed which taste bad," Buzek said when meeting with Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Roberta Anastase.

"We must cross this difficult period and, in a few months, maybe two years' time, we will be proud in the European Union (EU) for having succeeded in crossing it," he said. The economic crisis and energy were key topics discussed during the meeting. Anastase said the talks were focused on the importance of a dialogue at parliamentary level on energy with members of the EU, the Eastern Partnership and the Black Sea Synergy group. Buzek is in Romania for a day, during which he will also meet Romanian President Traian Basescu, Senate Chairman Mircea Geoana and Prime Minister Emil Boc.

Buzek said Tuesday Romanians were facing economic hardship and a tough austerity plan was necessary.

"We need more transparency and coherence in the way we conduct economic policy. We need to build common economic policy to accompany the monetary union," he said ahead of the visit.